Weightlifting: Haines City's James Wins 2A-9 Title at 199

Haines City junior Derwin James clears 260 pounds during his first lift in the clean-and-jerk segment at the Class 2A state qualifying meet Wednesday at St. Cloud. James won the district title later with a 620-pound total lift.

Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 11:33 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 11:33 p.m.

ST. CLOUD | A year ago, Derwin James came up five pounds short of a weightlifting state finals berth. On Wednesday, he woke up 5 pounds too heavy.

The Haines City junior went on a crash diet and workout session Wednesday and came away with the Class 2A, District 6 199-pound championship and an FHSAA state finals berth by the end of the day at St. Cloud.

"I got on the scale this morning. and I was 204," James said. "I shouldn't have ate so much the night before. but I was just hungry. I ate big. I had to put some trash bags on and had to get the weight off. I ran 2 miles and then some stadiums, home and away side."

James, who was one of four Polk County lifters to win district titles at the meet, finished with a 335-pound bench press and 280-pound clean and jerk, edging out Ridge Community's Dominic Dennard by 5 pounds.

"I think I could have improved at least 15 pounds on my bench press and 15 on clean and jerk, but I just sweated so much and got so weak losing weight," James said.

Bell finished third in the heavyweight division at the state finals last year and will be making his third state finals appearance April 26 at the Kissimmee Civic Center. He won the district title with a 735-pound total lift (405 bench).

"I wanted to get 420, but I am still happy about the win," Bell said.

Mosley, just a sophomore, will be making his first state finals appearance after a 600-pound total lift.

"This is my first year of weightlifting," Mosley said. "I didn't expect to come here and dominate but God is good and He does great stuff."

Bien-Aime finished with a 595-pound total, highlighted by a 335-pound bench press.Harmony won the meet with 47 points, St. Cloud (45) was second and Lake Region (26) was third. Winter Haven (21) finished fourth and Lakeland (16) was fifth. Nine more state finals at-large berths in each weight class will be awarded from a pool of the remaining districts Saturday.

Class 1A, District 7

ORLANDO | Seven county lifters won automatic FHSAA Class 1A state weightlifting berths at the District 7 meet Wednesday at Orlando Bishop Moore.

Orlando First Academy (35) won the meet while Auburndale (32) finished a close second, Frostproof (29) was third and Lake Wales was (28) fourth. The Class 1A state finals will be held April 25 at the Kissimmee Civic Center. Nine more state finals at-large berths in each weight class will be awarded from a pool of the remaining districts Saturday.

<p>ST. CLOUD | A year ago, Derwin James came up five pounds short of a weightlifting state finals berth. On Wednesday, he woke up 5 pounds too heavy.</p><p>The Haines City junior went on a crash diet and workout session Wednesday and came away with the Class 2A, District 6 199-pound championship and an FHSAA state finals berth by the end of the day at St. Cloud.</p><p>"I got on the scale this morning. and I was 204," James said. "I shouldn't have ate so much the night before. but I was just hungry. I ate big. I had to put some trash bags on and had to get the weight off. I ran 2 miles and then some stadiums, home and away side."</p><p>James, who was one of four Polk County lifters to win district titles at the meet, finished with a 335-pound bench press and 280-pound clean and jerk, edging out Ridge Community's Dominic Dennard by 5 pounds.</p><p>"I think I could have improved at least 15 pounds on my bench press and 15 on clean and jerk, but I just sweated so much and got so weak losing weight," James said.</p><p>Also claiming district titles were Lake Region's Emmanuel Bien-Aime (183), George Jenkins' Darrius Mosley (238) and Bartow senior Romante Bell (HWT). </p><p>Bell finished third in the heavyweight division at the state finals last year and will be making his third state finals appearance April 26 at the Kissimmee Civic Center. He won the district title with a 735-pound total lift (405 bench).</p><p>"I wanted to get 420, but I am still happy about the win," Bell said.</p><p>Mosley, just a sophomore, will be making his first state finals appearance after a 600-pound total lift.</p><p>"This is my first year of weightlifting," Mosley said. "I didn't expect to come here and dominate but God is good and He does great stuff."</p><p>Bien-Aime finished with a 595-pound total, highlighted by a 335-pound bench press.Harmony won the meet with 47 points, St. Cloud (45) was second and Lake Region (26) was third. Winter Haven (21) finished fourth and Lakeland (16) was fifth. Nine more state finals at-large berths in each weight class will be awarded from a pool of the remaining districts Saturday.</p><p>Class 1A, District 7</p><p>ORLANDO | Seven county lifters won automatic FHSAA Class 1A state weightlifting berths at the District 7 meet Wednesday at Orlando Bishop Moore. </p><p>The local first-place lifters were Edward Loya (129), Frostproof; Geraldo Thassy (154), Tenoroc; Jamal Shipman (183), Lake Wales; Billy Warren (199), Auburndale; Robert Wimbley (219), Lake Wales; Cecil Cherry (219), Frostproof; and Dwayne Williams (HWT), Mulberry.</p><p>Orlando First Academy (35) won the meet while Auburndale (32) finished a close second, Frostproof (29) was third and Lake Wales was (28) fourth. The Class 1A state finals will be held April 25 at the Kissimmee Civic Center. Nine more state finals at-large berths in each weight class will be awarded from a pool of the remaining districts Saturday.</p>